your power, you will perform the next act I require of you, and before night I will tell it you.'
'I accept,' said the Knight; 'and here is my truth.'—'Then,' said she, 'I dare boast that you are safe, for upon my life the Queen will say as I do. Let us see the proudest she that wears a kerchief, who will dare say nay to what I shall tell you. So, without farther parley, let us go forth.' She then whispered in his ear a short sentence, and bade him cheer up, and cast off all fear.
When they arrived at Court, the Knight said he had kept his word and the day for delivering up himself, and was ready with his answer. Many noble ladies had assembled to hear the sentence, the Queen sitting as judge, when the Knight was commanded to appear in Court:—and, silence being obtained, the question, 'What is it that women love best?' was put to him in due form and solemnity: when, in the audience of the whole Court, and in a bold manly voice, our knight answered; 'My Liege Lady, and most Royal Mistress,—what women desire above all things in this life is, to obtain
